Wednesday, January 26, 2011

On an absolutely swampy night due to a winter rain, the award recipients of the 44th annual Trident Fishing Tournament gathered at the James Island County Park to celebrate the outdoor tradition of fishing. Entrants who caught the largest fish in a respective category were awarded a nice plaque and a tournament fishing t-shirt. The local fishing clubs that support the Trident Fishing Tournament, run by the County Parks system, were also present to donate annual funds to the TFT. A special thanks goes to the Carolina Lady Anglers who worked in the kitchen to cook up shrimp and grits for the hearty anglers that had assembled.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Congrats to Capt. Rick Hiott for winning the Largemouth Bass category using Ultra-Light tackle; The 45th annual TFT official t-shirt design; Congrats to Savannah Frick for her first place photo entry; John Beauford came to collect his hardware for his TFT-winner Amberjack that also set the new state record at 123-pounds

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

One of the blessing of waterfowl season in the Lowcountry Outdoors is a common wood duck hunt in a swamp. Rise early (well before dawn) in order to be in the swamp when the wood ducks fly, which is always at first light. A sometimes tedious and tricky walk into the swamp is necessary to get in position. A hat with a light on it will help to shine the 'path' into the flooded bottomlands. Likely a beaver will be at work in the area, which helps to back up water and signal the woodies of a prime setting for them to flock towards. Sometimes those beavers can leave some sharp pointy sticks and stumps out there and just last week and then again this week two hunters busted their boots and had COLD water flood into the feet, which is just a part of duck hunting. In both cases a limit of woodrows was harvested and each hunt was therefore a BIG success.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Julian Clark with his woodies and busted rubber boots - he ripped 'em and fell in the water and said 'That water is COLD'; Four woodies harvested using a Big Lake Perfect Woodie call; Jeff with his busted wader boots compliments of a 'beaver bayonet' underneath the water; Hugh and John McLaurin of Elloree with their swamp woodrows.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

A friend and neighbor in Charleston shared his new cookbook with me on 1/11/2011 and since this is the winter season - perhaps it is time give care to the preparation of the game meat that we sought and gathered during deer season. Rick Mullin's "If I Killed A Deer" cookbook offers more than just venison recipes, it also covers soups, salads, veggies, starches and even Southern desserts.

PhotoByJeffDennis: If this depiction of 'fast food' was the norm in America, imagine how much healthier the population might be!

Russian Sweet & Sour Venison:

2 - 3 pounds boneless venison roast

2 - 3 teaspoons cooking oil

1 large onion peeled and chopped medium

1 carrot peeled and chopped

1 bay leaf

2 - 3 tablespoon butter

1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 cup raisins

1/2 pound whole small tender beets peeled

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

Directions: Cut the roast into thick slices about 1/2 to 2-inches thick. Salt and pepper the roast slices, and brown on both sides on medium low in the oil in a deep Dutch oven or skillet for about 10 to 15-minutes. Remove the meat from the pan and hold on a plate or if using a Crockpot, place the browned meat slices in the Crockpot. Add onions and carrots to the pan, along with the butter, and saute the onions and carrots for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are wilted. Add the red wine vinegar, beets, bay leaf, tomato paste, raisins, allspice, and sugar, and heat to a simmer. Add the meat back to the pan, and cover. Place in the oven to bake for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours on 300 degrees, or until tender. If using the Crockpot, place the roast slices in the crock pot, and pour the hot vegetables and sauce around the roast, and put the lid on. Cook all day on low OR for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours in Crockpot on high.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

While preparing to hunt released quail on Saturday afternoon, I witnessed a unique encounter between winged creatures that absolutely made a wonderful memory from the outdoors. As the guide on this hunt it was my duty to put out 20 quail and 2 chukar for the guests. After putting out all the quail I then handled the first chukar and set it out, but the second chukar slipped out of my hands and onto the ground. When I reached for it it off and flew through the open pine woods and down into a hardwood bottom. But about halfway to the hardwoods a red-shouldered hawk swooped down out of his perch high in the top of a pine tree, and that hawk was following that chukar like a heat-seeking missile, and it was a great look at how those hawks see everything in the woods and are ready to go in an instant if they see any easy mark. Having se exactly where the two birds landed, I got up and made my way through the woods, fully expecting to find the chukar in the talons of the hawk. To my surprise the chukar had eluded the hawk's grasp and when the hawk saw me he flew up into a tree before just completely leaving. I was able to scare the chukar back into the uplands, then go meet my guests and conduct the quail hunt over an English Setter, where we went 15 out of 20 on quail and did not harvest either chukar. Great hawk / chukar encounter!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Costa is the leading manufacturer of polarized performance sunglasses and they offer them in different styles that are designed with the angler in mind. Nearly synonymous with fishing due to loyal fans who know how much glare reduction means on the water, Costa is debuting new for 2011 their Fantail frame. The profile of these glasses is not quite as deep as the popular Jose frames, but the Fantail design introduces the 360-degree co-molded technology. This no-slip Hydrolite lining runs along the bottom of the entire frame as well as in the nose area. "This year you're going to see several new styles including more performance sunglasses like Fantail, and more trend sunglasses for females," said Chas MacDonald, President of Costa. Choose lenses from the 580 polycarbonate line or perhaps a blue mirror glass lens is best suited to the lifestyle of serious anglers. You can read more about the Costa Fantail in the February edition of Marlin magazine.

PhotoProvided: With a medium to large fit, the Costa Fantail is ideal for fishing

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Lowcountry Outdoors accepted an invitation to address the ladies of the Mayfield Garden Club on Tuesday Jan. 18 in a historic home located in downtown Walterboro. The meeting began with refreshments like shrimp paste and baked brie on crackers and included a caramel cake with coffee or soft drinks. A slideshow of Colleton county lands, birds, insects and more set the mood for the program. Speaking about conservation easements and the ACE Basin, it was not hard to accent the fact that our Lowcountry outdoors are special. Questions about forestry practices were raised, particularly the logging of hardwood bottomlands, and it was clear that this group cared about the surroundings in their home area. Further questions were raised about a proposed SCE&G landfill near Round O that Colleton County is courting. After a "do you know" slideshow, the Mayfield Garden Club and President Carol Hinson honored the speaker with a gift, a book titled Plantations of Saint Bartholomew's Parish.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Group photo with the Mayfield Garden Club; Jeff Dennis and good friend Sherrill Hiott; orchids adorned the refreshments table; hosts Leonard and Fran Hulquist pose with their dog while welcoming their guests

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Frabill is the world's largest producer of live bait containers and aeration products. Frabill also supplies other accessories to fishermen like dip nets of all sizes, all purpose waterproof gloves, and foul weather gear. Since 1938 Frabill has been gaining trust among anglers who want can-do products. Since Frabill makes live bait handling a priority it makes sense that they conducted an essay contest for outdoor writers to discuss why live bait is the way to go. On January 13 Frabill announced that Larry Ross of FoothillsOutdoors.com won first place with his article, "Love it or hate it, Live bait is usually the Ticket to Success." The article appeared in the Anderson Independent newspaper and Ross collected the $1000 first place award, and distinguished himself among his peer group of outdoor communicators. Congratulations Larry - well done!

Monday, January 17, 2011

The S.C. State duck calling championship was held during the 4th annual Winyah Bay heritage Festival. Organizer Mark Ackerman runs a tight contest so that the winner may be properly qualified to represent the Palmetto state in Stuttgart, Arkansas during the world duck calling championship. A duck calling clinic for youth was followed by the Junior S.C. contest and then the State Contest, where contestants must be at least 17 and an S.C. resident. Mark Prudhomme of Georgetown won the contest.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Hugh McLaurin of Elloree finished in third (on left) and Daniel Smith of O'burg finished second (middle) and Mark Prudhomme of G'town is the 2011 S.C. Duck Calling Champion; this youth won a decoy / trophy at the clinic; Junior winners were Jared Beasly (left), Liam Miller (middle) and Blake Hodge from Wrecking Crew Guide Service.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Downtown Historic Georgetown came alive over the weekend of Jan. 15 & 16 while the 4th annual Winyah Bay Heritage Festival was celebrated. Sporting antique collectibles, pluff mud wear, duck calls, decoys and more were for sale at two separate venues with the State Duck Calling contest decided outdoors in the waterfront park. A great turnout was likely due to the sunshine and moderate temperatures.

PhotosByJeffDennis: John Tanner shows his custom made turkey box calls which can be ordered to made out of ancient cypress carbon-dated as 47,000-years old; Wildlife artist and Wadmalaw champion Riley Bradham sits in front of his prints derived from his copper etchings; Boatbuilder Frank Middleton on his custom decoy carving workbench turning blocks of wood into special one-of-a-kind duck decoys that are ready for the field; A yellow lab take a flying leap during the Dixie Dock Dogs competition

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Brad Van Liew of Charleston has gone TWO FOR TWO in the Velux 5 Oceans sailboat race around the world. He has sailed into Wellington, New Zealand safe and sound much to delight of the Lowcountry followers that are wishing him well. The third leg of the race to Uruguay will be followed by Leg Four which will actually finish in the Holy City! Well Done Brad Van Liew!!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

There are options during waterfowl season, options like to hunt ducks or to hunt geese. Daryl Hodge and his Wrecking Crew Guide Service of Lancaster County have always chosen to hunt geese. Son Blake Hodge, now 14-years old, was raised by his waterfowling father to blow a goose call in such a way that the geese might respond. But then Blake showed a natural capacity to blow the goose (and duck) calls that out-shined what his father had taught him. With several duck and goose calling contests wins to his credit, Blake also performs in the field by serving as the primary caller for the Wrecking Crew. Blake attracted the attention of TV personality Captain Englis Glover who came to town on 1/5/11 to film an episode of his show called Reelin' Up The Coast. With the weather cold but cooperative, the hunt went as planned and nine honkers were harvested including several riveting episodes where 30 geese worked the decoys while the Wrecking Crew called non-stop for them to come just a bit closer.

VideoByJeffDennis: Daryl and Blake Hodge speak after the hunt

PhotosByJeffDennis: Blake Hodge blows his goose call from his layout blind; Capt. E and Blake break for a minute while filming a calling segment; a broken wing caused this harvested goose to strike a pose; Captain E uses a goose flag to bring in the geese

Monday, January 10, 2011

Taxidermist Kenneth Cordray is putting his focus into mounting the white-tails harvested in 2010, now that the deer processing season is drawing to a close. Check out some of the great mounts that he has in his repertoire!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

If you like the idea of nature being cool for young folks, then check out this website by the U.S. Forest Service. 'Discover the Forest' has a positive message about the outdoors for everyone, and is complete with the contented sounds of a suite of songbirds singing in the background. Even grown-ups might enjoy links like the one to their site on celebrating wildflowers!

Their website has a photo-taking game and a gallery for uploading real photos like these two.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The 46th annual Grand American Coon Hunt will be held in Orangeburg beginning January 6, featuring several nights of hunts and coon dog trials. This annual tradition is for Advanced Nite Hunt entrants only, and for more information call David McKeee at 803-940-0931.